Late Mail Powered by Ladbrokes Ep 555:34

Emily Kehoe with In her Time Thursday October 10 (Image/Monique Harmer)Source:News Corp Australia

The battle for top spot on the NBL ladder is set to go down to the very last game of the regular season when Melbourne host Perth in a blockbuster clash on Sunday afternoon.

Home court advantage through the NBL finals series is paramount and three teams – United, the Wildcats and the Sydney Kings are all capable of a top two finish.

So there will be no resting for any stars this weekend. It’s foot to the floor time.

Greg Hire of the Wildcats shoots past Chris Goulding of United during their Round 9 clash.Source:Getty Images

Only Melbourne and Perth can finish minor premiers but they can both drop to third as well if results go against them.

If the Ladbrokes bookies are right, reigning champs Melbourne should win both of their matches this week to finish first in the standings with a 19-9 record with Perth and Sydney battling to grab second and the comfort of two games at home for the semi-finals.

Lasts season, United enjoyed home court advantage throughout the play-offs and finished with the silverware.

Every game in the best-of-five grand final between Melbourne and Adelaide was won by the home side.

United are currently $2.50 to go back-to-back with the Kings at $3 and the Wildcats at $3.75.

Brisbane ($21) and Adelaide ($13).

The Kangaroos look like a dominant force in the AFLW.Source:Getty Images

AFLW

TWO games into their maiden season and already the Kangaroos are looking like the dominant force that many predicted.

The Kangaroos are into $2.50 to hop away with the 2019 AFLW Premiership, half the price of the second elect Brisbane Lions at $5, with the Bulldogs rated a $5.50 shot.

This week’s clash with the Dogs will tell us plenty.

If the defending premiers can upset the Roos as an outsider, Ladbrokes’ premiership market will shift considerably but, given the talent across the board, North should remain flag favourite.

The best bet of the weekend could be the Giants against Carlton.

While the Giants were, in context of AFLW scores, thrashed by the Kangaroos last week, the talent differential between that opponent and the Blues is stark.

GWS should get a comfortable win over the Blues, while the Lions also look a solid bet to rebound when they return to Brisbane to take on the Demons.

Richie Mo'unga and his Crusaders go into the Super Rugby season as favourites.Source:Getty Images

Super Rugby

IT HAS been a tough couple of years for Australian Super Rugby sides and the market suggests that will continue in 2019.

The first four positions in betting are occupied by New Zealand teams and it is the defending champion Crusaders ($3.75) that are currently clear favourites from the Hurricanes ($4.50), Chiefs ($7) and the Highlanders ($9).

The Lions are the most fancied of the South African outfits at $9 and Los Jaguares are $13 before we reach the first Australian side - the NSW Waratahs at $15.

Not a great deal is expected from the Reds in 2019 and they are currently $101 to claim their first Super Rugby title since 2011, but there has been some support for Brad Thorn’s side and they are the worst result for Ladbrokes heading into the season.

The first Australian derby of the season will be held in Canberra tonight (FRI) and it is the Brumbies that are narrow favourites over Melbourne.

The Rebels won both games against the Brumbies last season and the Brumbies won only three of their six games as favourites, so an early upset is a distinct possibility.

The Indigenous All Stars go in as favourites against the New Zealand Maori.Source:Getty Images

NRL All Stars

THE NRL All Stars Match is now in its third format and tonight the Indigenous All Stars will take on the New Zealand Maori in Melbourne in what should be an entertaining, end-to-end clash.

The Indigenous All Stars have won four of the past five All Star games and they are currently $1.80 favourites with Ladbrokes, while New Zealand Maori are at $2.

The retirement of Johnathan Thurston and the absence of Greg Inglis means that the Indigenous All Stars are without two of their most potent attacking threats and are short on representative experience.

In contrast, the New Zealand Maori side is packed full of players that have represented New Zealand, Australia and Tonga and their forward pack is not dissimilar to the full strength Kiwis Test outfit.

This forward pack could run all over the inexperienced and slightly undersized Indigenous All Stars side and $2 for New Zealand Maori to upset their rivals does appeal.

Newport County will take on Manchester City in the FA Cup.Source:AFP

FA Cup

THE “Magic Of The Cup” has been on show during the FA Cup to date and a host of upsets means that there are only seven Premier League teams left in the round of 16.

This weekend’s action is highlighted by one of the biggest David versus Goliath clashes in the recent history.

Manchester City, the most financially powerful club in the world with a wage bill equal to the GDP of a small nation, will take on League Two outfit Newport at their stadium Rodney Parade, which holds less than 8000 people.

The different environment is not expected to worry the might of Manchester City and they are currently $1.06 with Ladbrokes, while Newport are $29 to cause an upset.

The other highlight is the heavyweight showdown between Chelsea and Manchester United on Tuesday morning.

Chelsea will go into this clash as clear favourites at $2.15, but their manager Maurizio Sarri is under pressure to retain his job.

Manchester United are flying under caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær and, despite backing up from the Champions League, represent value at their current price of $3.25.

Emily Kehoe with In Her Time.Source:News Corp Australia

Best Bets

Black Caviar Lightning Stakes – In Her Time To Win @ $5.50

In Her Time is the proven elite Group 1 sprinter in this field. She didn’t win a race during the spring, but she wasn’t faraway in both the Premiere Stakes and the VRC Sprint Classic. Her first-up record is outstanding and if she produces anythinglike her best form she will be tough to beat.

A-League – Melbourne City To Beat Newcastle Jets @ $2.63

Melbourne City have won their two previous meetings with the Newcastle Jets this season and they are great value to sweeptheir rivals. The Jets have won only two of their past seven games as home favourites for a clear loss, while Melbourne Cityhave been a profitable betting play as away underdogs.

Super Rugby – Waratahs To Beat Hurricanes @ $3.10

The Waratahs have a decent record against the Hurricanes in recent years, they have scored two wins apiece in their past fourmeetings, and they are excellent value to score an upset win. The Waratahs won both their games as home underdogs last season,while they Hurricanes were a poor 3-4 as away favourites.

NBL – Melbourne United To Cover The Line Against Perth (-3.5 Points) @ $1.90

This game could very well end up deciding the NBL Minor Premiership and Melbourne United should be too strong for their rivalsat home. Just. The home side has won the past four games played between these two sides and Melbourne United have won an impressivenine of their 12 home games this season.